Tetrady not as good as all the hype

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Scotty Burke It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Richard Chatten One gets a sense of déjà vu all the way through this trial run for 'Triumph des Willens', as so many of its images were deliberately recreated by Leni Riefenstahl a year later for the more famous film, which also reuses Herbert Windt's music; although sadly there is no zeppelin in 'Triumph des Willens'.In addition to being almost exactly half the running time of the interminable 'Triumph', it's the mismatches and the occasional moments of spontaneity that makes 'Der Sieg des Glaubens' the more endurable of the two films. The presence throughout of Ernst Röhm is naturally the most remarkable feature; usually at Hitler's side but otherwise not unduly prominent (the film overall contains mercifully far less speeches - and marching - although there do seem to be more rather more shots of Goebbels this time round).  After years of being accustomed to seeing the aerial view of the threesome of Hitler, Himmler and Lutze (Röhm's tame replacement as head of the SA) approaching the Ehrenhalle in 'Triumph', the sight of just Hitler and Röhm giving the salute comes as a jolt. The presence of Vice-Chancellor Papen (soon to be sidelined by the Führer until collared by the Allies in 1945 and brought back to Nuremberg as one of the defendants) reminds us that this is still very early days for the New Order, and Riefenstahl occasionally cuts to a suitably overwhelmed looking Italian delegation.Two amusing moments depicting the Führer caught slightly off-guard are early on when he immediately thrusts a bouquet of flowers two little girls have just presented to him in Rudolf Hess's direction; and the unaccustomed slouching posture he adopts while the leader of the Hitler Youth, Baldur von Schirach, attempts to quieten them down so that he can begin his address.

Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de) "Der Sieg des Glaubens" or "Victory of the Faith" is Leni Riefenstahl's second directorial effort (after "Das blaue Licht") and her first documentary about the Reichsparteitage of the German Nazi Party. She was roughly 30 when she made this one here. It is basically a less refined and less popular "Triumph of the Will". Propaganda movies were still a really new thing and you could see how this one still lacked the qualities of Riefenstahl's later works. It is also not as "epic" somehow. I think these films are interesting documents of their time nonetheless in terms of the historical context. Yes the contents are despicable and demagogic, but these films are still a chance to learn about history and understand what was going on, as absurd as it may be. All in all, I thought this was nonetheless not a particularly interesting watch. The only good thing is that it only ran for roughly an hour, considerably shorter than "Triumph of the Will" and that's perfectly fine in my opinion.

cstaeble Like all of Ms. Riefenstahl's work this is a disturbingly effective piece of propaganda. When I look at the low scores that some people have given this film I understand. If you are looking for meaning and social redemption, then this film deserves less than a one. However, Ms. Riefenstahl shows us here, as in her later propaganda, how Hitler and his brownshirts seduced the German people. Hitler was elected by the German people who sought a solution to the Great Depression, reparations, and the slight they felt after an ignominious defeat in World War One. When we see the effectiveness of modern spin machines at shaping public policy we must look at this documentary with eyes wide open. Here Hitler is neither a clown nor a caricature but a messianic messenger that is freely embraced. Look closely and feel the seductive embrace of fascism. Look again and look at yourself in the mirror. The spell is seductive and mesmerizing. The German people lost and were butchered as surely as they butchered their victims. The world may not survive another conflagration like World Word II. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you are above the mesmerizing spell of the roaring crowd. Ask yourself if you are willing to defy the crowd.

Joel Nelson Triumph of the Will is a remake of this film, Riefenstahls earlier effort. However only myself and a few others have seen this film in it's entirety as it is generally believed lost. It is a fantastic film in that one can truly see how Riefenstahl was developing her unique documentary style which would later result in Triumph of the Will, Day of Freedom Our Armed Forces and finally Olympia I and II. Sadly this film will probably never be released to the general public as it is heavily protected by the German Federal Archives and rights are administered through Transit Film Munich. Rating? Three of Five Stars!